Enlightened Joy and Love, Selflessness and Beyond
Amir Freimann, Aviva Berkovich-Ohana
IntechOpen eBooks December 13, 2024 DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1007429 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Phenomenological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Spiritual exemplars from various traditions |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation Mysticism |
| Keywords | Transcendence philosophy Embodied cognition Religious experience Consciousness Spiritual practice Spirituality Social connectedness Interpretation philosophy Psychoanalysis Aesthetics Epistemology Theology |
| Key points | Enlightened joy and love are stable, constant features of the spiritual “high plateau” state of “Living Transcendence,” offering sustained well-being and connectedness. |
Abstract
This paper explores the concept of enlightened joy and love as an aspect of a stable and enduring spiritual “high plateau” state, referred to here as “Living Transcendence,” which contrasts with transient mystical or spiritual “peak” experiences. Drawing from a phenomenological study of 32 “spiritual exemplars” from various traditions, the research identifies key characteristics of this state. Enlightened joy and love are described as stable, constant, and intrinsic to daily life, manifesting as a subtle, integrated presence rather than an intense emotional peak. These qualities are intertwined with other aspects of spiritual experience, such as noetic awareness, embodied presence, and relational interbeing. The paper also examines two Buddhism-inspired models of selflessness—the Self-Based Psychological Functioning model and the Pattern Theory of Selflessness—which suggest that spiritual development and selflessness are related to enlightened joy and love. The findings suggest that enlightened joy and love are integral to the lived experience of the spiritual “high plateau,” offering a sustained sense of well-being and connectedness that transcends the fluctuating emotions of ordinary consciousness. This paper contributes to the understanding of spiritual development by highlighting the role of selflessness in achieving a stable and enduring joyful and loving state of being.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... | 2017 | Qualitative study with mixed-methods | |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 6 |
| The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators | 2018 | Qualitative study |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience Review of General Psychology May 1, 2017
- Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being Current Directions in Psychological Science April 1, 2005
- Spirituality and Religiousness: A Diversity of Definitions Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health July 1, 2011
- Nondual Awareness and Minimal Phenomenal Experience. Frontiers in Psychology 2020
and 10 more in the library